Oscar nominations announced today

British stars and film-makers will be keeping their fingers crossed today as nominations for this year's Oscars are unveiled.

Among the stars tipped for glory are Jim Broadbent and Dame Judi Dench for their powerful peformances in the British film Iris.

Kate Winslet could be another strong contender for her performance in the same film while Sir Ian McKellen's role in Lord Of The Rings could see him once again on the shortlist.

He was previously up for an Oscar in 1999 for his commanding appearance as movie-maker James Whale in Gods & Monsters.

The first film in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy The Fellowship Of The Ring, which has plenty of British involvement, is expected to pick up numerous nominations after critics and audiences lapped up the film.

Dame Judi has become a shortlist regular at the Oscars recently. She has been nominated three times between 1998 and 2001, picking up the best supporting actress title for Shakespeare In Love in 1999.

She plays the title role of Iris Murdoch in Iris, opposite Broadbent who plays the writer's husband John Bayley in a touching portrayal or their relationship and her disintegration due to Alzheimer's Disease.

Broadbent has never before been nominated for an Oscar but last month landed a Golden Globe, often a good indicator for Academy Award success.

Winslet has been lauded for her portrayal of Murdoch as a young woman in the same film. She has twice been nominated for Oscars, for Sense And Sensibility and Titanic.

Nominations will be announced this afternoon, which is the early morning in Los Angeles where the list is read out.